The Science of a GMO: GM Soybean Seed Test Lab

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PRESENTER: The materials you will need are
one conventional, non-GM soybean.

One GM soybean.

Two reaction vials
or one microliter micro tube.

Two transfer pipettes.

Two lateral flow test strips.

1% PBS buffer or distilled water.

Four weigh boats.

Access to tweezers, scoopulas,
paper towels, hammer,

and isopropyl alcohol wipes.

Using the seeds
in the GM soybean seed kit,

allow students to observe and compare
the seeds.

Students should look for observable
differences in shape, size, and color.

Note: Little to no difference
will be observable in the seeds.

As students observe,

be sure that the two varieties
are kept separate.

Explain to the class
that although the two seeds look the same,

there is a difference between them

and we are going to do an experiment
to try and discover it.

Complete the following lab tests
for the class to see.

Label the micro tubes
for identification of the seed

that will be tested
by labeling one "A", and the other "B".

Break the seed by placing one GM soybean

between two small weight boats
and tapping it with a hammer.

The seed should break into 2 or 3 pieces

to allow enough
surface area to be exposed for extraction.

Note: Do not crush the seed.

Crushing can cause issues
recovering all pieces for extraction

and may cause cross-contamination
of the testing area.

Repeat this step
with the conventional soybean

using separate weigh boats.

Remove the top weigh boats

and place the seed pieces
in the correct micro tube.

If the seed is stuck to the boat,
use tweezers or a scoopula

to gently release it.

Do not touch the seeds with your hands
to avoid cross-contamination.

Clean tweezers with
70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol wipes

to prevent cross-contamination.

If any of the particles
of the GM seed sample

end up in the conventional sample,

you will get a false positive
on the test strip.

So, it is important to use
different weigh boats

and to clean the scoopula

to prevent what we call in the lab,
"cross-contamination".

Use the pipette to fill the micro tube
with 1% PBS buffer or distilled water.

Approximately 0.5 milliliters

Using the pipette as a pestle
and the micro tube as a mortar,

stir in the seed pieces
for about 20 to 30 seconds.

Be sure to stir with separate pipettes
to avoid cross-contamination.

Let the micro tube with the pieces of seed
and distilled water or 1% PBS buffer,

stand for 3 to 5 minutes.

Place one lateral flow test strip
inside each vial

with the arrow pointing downward.

Allow the test to continue

in the micro tube
at room temperature for five minutes.

During this time, explain how
the lateral flow strip test works

using the lesson plan.

Interpreting the results.

If the sample contains the CP for protein,
a second line will develop.

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Note: If you grow the plants out,
you can also use the leaf tissue as well

instead of the seeds.

Just take a micro tube,
sandwich it between the cap and the leaf.

Punch a small hole.

Add your PBS buffer
or your distilled water.

Use this as a mortar and pestle,
crush it up,

and do the lateral flow strip test.

Is there a difference
between these two varieties of soybean?

Guide a class discussion
for students to conclude

that these two varieties of soybean
are fundamentally the same.

They are both soybeans.

However, one variety has a protein
that the other does not.

Ask students,
"How did the seed obtain that protein?"

Introduce the concept

that the genome of a plant can be changed
using a variety of methods

In the following lesson,
students will learn

how these two seed varieties
became different

and explore
the impact that a single gene can have.

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